Ammunition Rounds for Observance of Religious Beliefs and a Method of Hunting

ABSTRACT

An ammunition round and method of hunting is provided that allows a hunter of the Muslim faith to hunt with a firearm and ensure the flesh of the hunted animal is halal. The ammunition rounds include a shotgun pellet, shotgun slug, handgun round, and rifle round having sharpened edges designed into their body structure to induce a cutting or slicing operation upon impact with a game animal. The shotgun pellets comprise raised cutting surfaces or a defined bi-pyramidal shape having cutting edges and intersection thereon. The shotgun slug, handgun round, and rifle round of the present invention comprise leading ends having cutting surfaces forming sharpened edges. These cutting surfaces include a plurality of sharpened extension members extending from the round leading end, or different surface geometries to create a cutting interface upon contact with a target animal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/605,592 filed on Mar. 1, 2012, entitled “Halal Load.” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearm ammunition for use in hunting and slaughtering. The present invention further relates to religious methods of animal hunting and slaughter. Specifically, the present invention pertains to an article of ammunition having a projectile with several cutting surfaces thereon, whereby the ammunition projectile contacts a hunted animal with a cutting action rather than a with blunt impact to observe the religious principles of Islamic Law, whereafter the meat of the animal may be lawfully consumed.

For those game hunters of the Muslim faith, it can be difficult to observe the religious laws of their faith while successfully engaging and hunting a prey animal. Traditional Islamic slaughter requires that an animal be killed or slaughtered with a cutting action or piercing blow, whereafter the meat is considered “halal” and is permissible to be consumed. Most Muslim hunters observe this rule by hunting only with a bow and arrow, ensuring that the animal is struck with the spear-end of the arrow such that the arrow enters the animal with its sharp end and causes a cutting action rather than a blunt impact.

For those that wish to hunt with rifles and other firearms, the ability to ensure that the hunted animal flesh is indeed halal is difficult, as the speed of the ammunition round and its design makes it nearly impossible to determine if the bullet impacted the animal as prescribed by the Islamic faith. Of greater concern is that most ammunition rounds for hunting rifles and handguns include a blunt tip design that would otherwise not establish the required cutting action upon impact with the animal as prescribed to make the hunted animal halal.

An option for some hunters is first wounding the animal by way of the firearm, and then properly slaughtering the animal thereafter under the principles of Islamic Law. However, this can be difficult to accomplish successfully. The animal may be wounded and escape the area before being corralled, or the animal may die before being found by the hunter and properly slaughtered. Both of these scenarios make it impossible for the hunter to observe his religious beliefs and ensure a successful hunt. The animal may also be exposed to a prolonged period of suffering before being killed, which is not a desired aspect of the exercise. Further still, the infrequency of a game animal coming within range of a hunter makes this exercise even less likely to be attractive to a hunter. Therefore, an alternative remedy to this problem is required.

The present invention offers a new ammunition round design that solves this known problem existing at the intersection of game hunting and the Islamic faith. Specifically, the present invention discloses a new ammunition round that provides a leading edge design that ensures a cutting action when impacting a game animal. Several embodiments are disclosed, including a handgun bullet round, a rifle round, a shotgun slug round, and finally a shotgun pellet round. Each of these embodiments includes a sharpened edge or cutting surface that ensures the impact is not a blunt impact, but a slicing, cutting impact that kills the game animal in accordance with the Islamic faith. Associated with the individual ammunition rounds, a method of hunting using ammunition rounds having cutting surfaces is disclosed for the purposes of game hunting and slaughtering animals using a firearm.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to ammunition rounds and projectiles for hunting or shooting. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications, and generally relate to weapons of war or ammunition having a design that improves accuracy, range, killing power, or other quality that is valued in hunting or combat. The present invention is a new and novel ammunition round that is directed to the Islamic faith and the ability to properly slaughter a game animal using a firearm without causing excess pain, reduced effectiveness of the firearm, or a risk of not following the Islamic faith. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,996,923 and 4,935,177 to Theising discloses a shotgun ammunition round having a plurality of elongated needle-like projectiles known as flechettes therein. The flechettes are supported within a matrix with their pointed ends extending from the matrix. The matrix and flechettes are placed within a shell casing. In use, the flechettes are supported by the matrix such that they do not yaw as they leave the shell of the ammunition. The pointed ends of the flechettes provide a piercing object that can be used for hunting, but does not provide a cutting motion or object that would inflict a cutting motion onto a target animal while hunting. The present invention, by contrast, is a shotgun shell having a slug or plurality of pellets that each having cutting surfaces thereon. When contacting a target animal, the wounds inflicted are a result of the cutting surfaces.

Similar to the Theising devices, U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,568 to Shellnutt discloses an ammunition cartridge having a casing, propellant, ignition means, and a plurality of elongated projectiles arranged substantially longitudinally within the casing. The projectiles comprise a pointed end and a plurality of fins along an opposite end to increase their stability during flight, in a similar design as an arrow. The Shellnutt device, while disclosing a new and novel shotgun shell, fails to disclose a means of killing or slaughtering an animal that is aligned with principles of Islamic Law that would allow for the food products to be considered Halal. The present invention avoids the use of pointed objects such as bullets and arrows, and replaces the ammunition with a slug based or pellet-based round having blades thereon to provide a cutting motion when the ammunition contacts the target animal.

The present invention provides a new ammunition type and method of game animal hunting that allows individuals of the Muslim faith to properly slaughter their prey animals without resorting to the use of bow and arrow hunting tools. The present invention contemplates an ammunition projectile round having cutting surfaces thereon, whereby contact with the prey animal establishes a cutting action through the animal flesh. The goal is to provide a structure that can be utilized with different firearm types for producing halal food by way of hunting with a firearm. The disclosed method involves a member of the Muslim faith carrying out the hunting activity in observance of his faith and using the disclosed ammunition projectiles to carry out the slaughter of the prey animal.

The present invention provides a cutting-action ammunition round, whereby the leading portion of the ammunition round or the circumference of the round is directed to a cutting surface rather than a blunt impact interface. The animal is not impacted with blunt force, but rather is sliced upon impact in accordance with Islamic principles of halal slaughter. It is submitted that the present invention is divergent in design elements and intent from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing means of slaughtering animals in accordance with halal where firearm slaughter is desired. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of ammunition projectiles now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new ammunition projectile and method of slaughtering game animals using firearms, wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when hunting and slaughtering animals in accordance with the teachings of Islamic faith.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ammunition projectile and method of slaughtering game animals within the requirements of halal, wherein the device incorporate all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ammunition projectile that includes cutting or slicing surfaces thereon such that when the projectile impacts the animal it induces a cutting operation rather than blunt trauma.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of hunting or slaughtering that involves ammunition rounds having cutting surfaces thereon, wherein a hunter of the Muslim faith can hunt game animals and slaughter the animals in observation of their faith such that the meat is considered halal.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide ammunition projectiles fulfilling the requirements necessary for halal slaughter, wherein the ammunition embodiments include slug and pellet shotgun round, a rifle round, and a handgun round.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a view of an embodiment of the present shotgun pellet.

FIG. 2 shows a view of another embodiment of the present shotgun pellet.

FIG. 3 shows a view of an embodiment of the present shotgun slug.

FIG. 4 shows a view of another embodiment of the present shotgun slug.

FIG. 5 shows a view of another embodiment of the present shotgun slug.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the handgun bullet embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a side cutaway view of the handgun bullet embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a frontal end view of the handgun bullet embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the rifle bullet embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a close-up perspective view of the rifle bullet embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an end view of the rifle bullet embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the halal ammunition round. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for hunting and slaughtering game animals using an ammunition round that induces a cutting action upon impact in observance of Islamic Law, whereby the slaughtered meat is thereafter halal. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a view of the shotgun pellet embodiment 11 of the present invention and its arrangement within a shotgun shell 20. The present invention contemplates a formed cutting surface on the leading edge of an ammunition round or around the perimeter of a shotgun pellet 11, wherein the cutting surfaces establish a slicing action into the prey animal rather than inducing blunt force impacts that would not otherwise be considered halal within the Islamic faith. When deployed in a shotgun shell 20, the pellet 11 of the present invention is packaged in same fashion as most standard shotgun shell pellets, wherein the shell 20 comprises a shell case 22, a brass head 21, a lowermost rim 23, a propellant gunpowder 25, a primer 24, a wad 26, and volume within the shell case within its forward section enclosing a plurality of pellets 11 that may be stored therein prior to being ejected by the ignited gunpowder 25 through the end 29 of the case 22.

The shot pellet 11 of FIG. 1 is one contemplated embodiment of the present invention, wherein the pellet 11 comprises a rounded body structure 12 forming a largely spherical shape. About the body 12 of the pellet is a plurality of cutting surfaces 13 that extend radially outward from the body 12 to extend a cutting edge 14 from the pellet about the perimeter of each cutting surface. In this embodiment, the outer surface of the pellet body 12 comprises upstanding cutting surfaces 13, which may be designed as significantly raised edges as shown, or shorter cutting planes that are extensions of the body member 12. The orientation of the cutting surfaces 13 and their pathway about the pellet 11 may also vary by design, falling within the scope and intent of the present invention for inducing a cutting operation upon impact. Standard shotgun shell pellets comprise a smooth outer surface that would otherwise induce blunt impacts with a target, making the meat shot thereby considered haraam, or sinful to consume under Islamic law.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a second embodiment of the shotgun pellet 11 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the pellet comprises a square bi-pyramidal body having a plurality of cutting edges 14 thereabout and several pointed corners 15 to slice and cut upon impact with the target animal. This embodiment provides a more compact pellet shape that does not have extended cutting surfaces that may otherwise disrupt the travel of the pellet through the air. The embodiment of FIG. 2 is loaded in the same fashion as the first embodiment, wherein the open volume of the shotgun case is filled with a plurality of the bi-pyramidal pellets and deployed therefrom when being shot. The reduced cross section and compact design of the bi-pyramidal shape reduces pellet flutter, tumbling, and range issues that may otherwise accompany a flanged pellet design. Upon impact, the edges 14 and corner regions 15 cut into the target animal, preventing blunt impacts that would otherwise cause the flesh to become haraam.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 5, there are shown views of the shotgun slug 30 embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the pellets are replaced by a shotgun slug 30 having an enlarged body 31 that consumes the interior cavity of the shotgun case 22, as is commonly know in the art of shotgun slug rounds. The slug is deployed in the same fashion as the shotgun pellet, wherein a shotgun round 20 includes a shell case 22, a brass head 21, a lowermost rim 23, a propellant gunpowder, a primer, a wad 26, and volume within the shell case within its forward section to house the shotgun slug 30 prior to being ejected by the ignited gunpowder through the forward end 29 of the case 22. The ignited gunpowder forces the slug 30 through the barrel of a shotgun by loading the slug rear face 36 along the trailing end of the slug, driving the slug along the smooth or rifled barrel.

The slug 30 comprises a standard shotgun slug design having a sharpened leading end, whereby the initial contact with the target animal induces a cutting or slicing operation. In a first slug embodiment, the round comprises a plurality of sharpened blade members 33 extending from the slug body 31. The blade members 33 are include cutting surfaces 14 and converge to a pointed tip 34 that induces penetration and slicing upon impact. Below the pointed tip and along the leading end 32 of the slug body 31 may also comprise a slug extension 35 that supports the tip 34 upon impact and drives the blade members 33 into the animal flesh as the round contacts the animal. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the quantity and arrangement of the blade members 33 and their relation with the extension 35 may take on several forms. The goal is to provide a forward cutting edge 14 and sharpened tip 34 to eliminate any blunt impacts with the animal.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown yet another embodiment of the shotgun slug 30 of the present invention. This embodiment comprises a slug with a machined forward surface. The surface is cut to have several angled planes or surfaces along the slug leading end 32 that intersect along edges 14 and at pointed corners 15, whereby the edges 14 and corners 15 establish cutting interfaces along the slug forward surface. The slug of FIG. 5 may provide at least one pointed corner 15 or a plurality thereof, whereby the angled surfaces of the slug intersect one another and form the cutting interfaces required to properly slice the target animal upon impact. The surfaces are created using a milling operation, whereby a mill cutting tool removes slug material at different angles to create the intersecting surfaces, edges, and corners thereon.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 8, there are shown views of the handgun round 40 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a handgun or pistol round 40 is provided having a plurality of machined recesses 41 along the round leading edge. The recesses 41 are portions of the bullet structure that are removed, whereby the peripheral edges of each recess create sharpened edges 14 and the recesses converge along the bullet leading edge to forming a sharpened tip 15. This provides a cutting interface along the leading edge of the bullet that slices through a target animal upon impact. As is commonly found in handgun and pistol bullets, the round 40 is packaged within a shell case 22 and extends therefrom, whereby a quantity of gunpowder 26 ejects the round 40 from the case 22 upon impact of a firing pin against the base 23 of the shell case. The gun powder 26 places significant pressure against the base 36 of the round 40 along its trailing end, causing the round to accelerate down the barrel of the pistol and out of the firearm towards its intended target.

In a preferred embodiment, three recesses 41 are machined within the round 40 leading end, whereby each recess 41 originates at the forward most tip of the round and extend radially outward. The recesses 41 are areas of removed material that create sharp edges 14 and a pointed forward tip 15. It is contemplated that other designs may incorporate a different number of recesses 41 or pattern thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 11, there are shown views of the rifle round 50 of the present invention. Similar to the handgun round embodiment, the rifle round 50 comprises a rifle bullet structure supported within a rifle case 22 and having a rounded, pointed body structure commonly known in the art of rifle rounds. Along the round 50 leading end are a plurality of recesses 41 carved out of the round structure. As with the pistol embodiment, the rifle recesses 41 establish cutting edges 14 and a sharpened point 15 to induce cutting and piercing of the animal flesh upon contact therewith. The exact design and layout of the recesses 41 may take several forms. FIGS. 9 through 11 show a three-recess pattern extending radially outward from the sharpened tip 15, which is one such contemplated design that accomplishes the goal of providing a cutting or slicing ammunition round.

Both the handgun and rifle round embodiment of the present invention comprise an elongated and cylindrical body portion tapering inwards along the bullet leading end. Rather than terminating at a conical tip or at a blunt tip, the ammunition of the present invention offers cutting edges and a sharpened tip that cuts through animal flesh rather than impacting with blunt force.

The leading end embodiments of the disclosed shotgun slugs, the handgun round, and rifle round are adapted to create a cutting surface upon impact. It is contemplated and desired to allow for the interchangeability of these leading end embodiments across the ammunition types. The type and design of the cutting elements are equally effective when presented as any of the ammunition types, including the shotgun slug, the pistol round, or the rifle round, independent of the particularly design chosen for that round. Therefore, it is desired to disclose an embodiment of the handgun and rifle round that include blade members extending from the leading edge of the round, as is provided for the slug of FIGS. 3 and 4. Furthermore, it is desired to disclose a leading end of a rifle or handgun round having the angled planes and sharpened intersections as provided for the shotgun slug of FIG. 5. Finally, it is desired to disclose a shotgun round having a plurality of recesses along its leading end, as provided in the rifle and handgun round embodiments of FIGS. 6 through 11. Therefore, the leading ends of the shotgun slug, rifle round, and handgun round are thus interchangeable across ammunition types.

Associated with the structure of the present invention is an accompanying method of hunting for those of the Muslim faith. As noted, hunting and slaughtering of meat for Muslims must be accordance with the rules of halal for a practicing Muslim to lawfully consume the meat thereafter. To allow for a hunter to utilize a firearm and ensure the hunted animal meat is halal, the following steps are disclosed. First, a firearm type is chosen that is appropriate for the hunting activity. Then the appropriate ammunition round is selected, whereby the ammunition round comprises a cutting surface leading edge or a body structure having cutting surfaces thereon. The hunter fires the ammunition round at a target animal, whereafter the round impacts the animal with its cutting surfaces to piece and slice the animal flesh in accordance with traditional Islamic slaughter.

When Muslims hunt animals they are required by their faith to do so by using a cutting action. Most hunting is therefore conducted by bow and arrow, whereby the blade of the arrow fulfills this requirement. This leaves out hunters who prefer to use firearms, as the firearms used to hunt utilize a “blunt”, non-cutting projectile to kill the animals. If the animal is not hunted correctly, then it cannot be considered “Halal,” or lawful to eat.

The present invention describes a specially designed shotgun, handgun, and rifle load that can create a cutting action when it impacts the flesh of an animal. The rounds comprise a tip fashioned to provide a plurality of cutting surfaces or blade edges. Such projectiles cause the animal being hunted to be cut on impact, making the animal religiously lawful to consume. The present invention allows hunters of Islamic faith (or any faith in which meat must be “slaughtered”) to hunt and render game lawful for consumption.

It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) An ammunition round for observance of religious beliefs, comprising: a shotgun pellet having a rounded body portion that is adapted to be supported in plurality within a shotgun case; said shotgun pellet rounded body portion having at least one upstanding cutting surface extending therefrom, said cutting surface having a sharpened outer edge for inducing a cutting action upon impact with a target animal. 2) The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one upstanding cutting surface comprises a first and second upstanding cutting surface extending circumferentially about said pellet body portion and intersecting perpendicularly with one another. 3) The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one upstanding cutting surface comprises a first an upstanding cutting surface extending circumferentially about said pellet body portion. 4) An ammunition round for observance of religious beliefs, comprising: a shotgun pellet having a bi-pyramidal body portion that is adapted to be supported in plurality within a shotgun case; said bi-pyramidal body portion having a plurality of cutting edges and corners for inducing a cutting action upon impact with a target animal. 5) An ammunition round for observance of religious beliefs, comprising: an ammunition projectile having an elongated and cylindrical body portion, a leading end, and a trailing end; said projectile leading end further comprising a plurality of cutting edges and at least one pointed tip for inducing a cutting action upon impact with a target animal. 6) The device of claim 5, wherein said leading end cutting edges further comprise: a plurality of upstanding blade members extending from said leading end, said blade members having a sharpened edge; said plurality of blade members converging to a central pointed tip. 7) The device of claim 5, wherein said leading end cutting edges further comprise: a plurality of intersecting surface planes machined into said forward surface, whereby said surface plane intersections are sharpened edges; said surface intersections establishing at least one pointed tip along said forward surface. 8) The device of claim 5, wherein: said body portion a tapers inwards along said body portion leading end; a plurality of recesses in said tapering leading end; said recesses each comprising removed material forming a perimeter edge; said plurality of recesses converging at least leading end to form a sharpened tip. 9) The device of claim 5, wherein said ammunition projectile comprises a shotgun slug ammunition round. 10) The device of claim 5, wherein said bullet comprises a handgun ammunition round. 11) The device of claim 5, wherein said bullet comprises a rifle ammunition round. 12) A method of hunting in observance of religious beliefs, comprising the steps of: choosing a firearm appropriate for hunting a game animal; selecting ammunition rounds appropriate for said firearm having cutting surfaces thereon for inducing a cutting action upon impact with said game animal; loading said firearm with said cutting surface ammunition; firing said cutting surface ammunition; ensuring said game animal was killed by said ammunition cutting surfaces. 